Finding What You Need In The Catalogue of Life

Names in November Workshop

GBIF and Catalogue of Life hosted a “Names in November” workshop 11-2016 in Leiden, Netherlands. The meeting included representatives from key initiatives directly involved with managing nomenclatural data or producing the taxonomic content found in the Catalogue of Life. It sought their vision and commitment for a broad-based joint initiative around a shared vision for a single, sustainable taxonomic backbone.

GBIF and Catalogue of Life have received funding from the Netherlands to focus on developing a comprehensive solution in 2017 and 2018.

The Importance Of Global Species Databases

Find out why the Catalogue of Life is the most authoritative global species index available.

Catalogue of Life: January 2017

Catalogue of Life: 2017 Annual Checklist

FAQ

The Catalogue of Life is the most comprehensive and authoritative global index of species currently available. It consists of a single integrated species checklist and taxonomic hierarchy. The Catalogue holds essential information on the names, relationships and distributions of over 1.6 million species. This figure continues to rise as information is compiled from diverse sources around the world.Read more

There is currently no single, universal and complete reference to what species we think are alive today. Without this we can not sustainably use, explore, monitor, manage and protect biodiversity resources.Read more

The Dynamic Edition is a constantly evolving version of the Catalogue of Life. Anything can change as the list develops: names, their associated details, and their content providers and there is no tracking of those changes. For that reason, the Dynamic Edition is not the one to quote if you wish to cite a verifiable source. It is, however, a great 'expert system', helping those at the forefront of their science to track, and contribute to the development of taxonomy. Periodic issues are progressively enhanced, in what will evolve as a dynamically developing system, made available online and as web-services.

The Annual Checklist is a snapshot of the entire Catalogue of Life: a fixed imprint. If you quote an organism from this version, others will be able to turn to that same reference - at any point in the future. All editions of the Annual Checklist to date are available online, and deposited in libraries around the world. Partner programmes, that link online to the Catalogue of Life, will reference the Annual Checklist.

Yes! If you have a taxonomic database and would like to join the Species 2000 federation of databases in the Catalogue of Life please contact us. We are especially interested in taxonomists that are working in our gap areas.Read more

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